Covering Carolina athletics beyond men’s basketball and football, with dedicated reporting on women’s basketball and baseball, in addition to covering other sports that rarely draw media attention
North Carolina has focused heavily on the point guard position in the 2027 recruiting class, with two five-star recruits visiting on campus in consecutive weeks. Beckham Black was in Chapel Hill on Saturday. Nasir Anderson was scheduled to visit Wednesday. Both are nationally ranked among the top prospects in the class, giving Coach Michael Malone two high-level lead guards to pursue as he works to build UNC’s first full high school recruiting class.
North Carolina football kicker Rece Verhoff and three field hockey stars can return to competition after an Indiana judge granted an injunction Wednesday that restores their fifth season of eligibility.
Deja Kelly’s professional basketball journey has put her on a WNBA roster. The Dallas Wings signed the former UNC and Oregon guard to a developmental player contract, the team announced Tuesday. She hasn’t been in the WNBA since being cut in the 2025 preseason by the Las Vegas Aces. Kelly has signed to play for Panthers WBC Kavala in Greece this fall.
CHAPEL HILL — As two of the eight players with their retired numbers hanging from the Smith Center rafters, Tar Heels fans have emotional connections with Tyler Hansbrough and Antawn Jamison. For UNC students who were either not yet born when Jamison was the National Player of the Year in 1998 or possibly toddlers when Hansbrough won the award in 2008, they mostly know about their greatness from hearing their parents reminisce. But both have connected with Hussman School of Journalism and Media students by co-teaching a class.
CHAPEL HILL — Having a role in hiring the coach of a program he holds so dear meant the world to Antawn Jamison because he knew it would have made Dean Smith proud. But it also meant some sleepless nights.
North Carolina jumped six spots to No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches women’s soccer Top 25 poll after the Tar Heels extended their win streak to six with two victories last week. It’s the first time UNC has been No. 1 since the preseason poll last season and the 38th time in the top spot in program history. The six consecutive weeks in the top 10 are the most since a 15-week streak capped by that 2025 top ranking. Its previous best ranking this season was No. 7 three times, including the last two polls.
CHAPEL HILL — Even if a player doesn’t commit to Carolina out of high school, the relationship built with Coach Courtney Banghart can still leave a lasting impression. That was the case for Chloe Clardy, who didn’t even have UNC among her final three schools as a four-star recruit. She scored more than 2,500 career points, led Conway to an Arkansas 6A state title and twice won the Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year honor.
Henri Veesaar’s rookie NBA season is likely over before it started. The Atlanta Hawks announced Monday that the former North Carolina center suffered a torn right ACL during a workout last Tuesday, an injury that will require season-ending surgery.
North Carolina has extended baseball coach Scott Forbes’ contract through 2032 after a season that ended with the Tar Heels as national runners-up.
Both Carolina basketball programs will open December on national television, with ESPN announcing game times and networks Monday for the fourth annual SEC/ACC Challenge.
As North Carolina officially opens practice Tuesday in its first season under Coach Michael Malone, the unofficial preseason rankings give the Tar Heels a modest but respectable starting point with a roster rebuilt largely through the transfer portal.
Several former Carolina players turned in strong Week 2 performances, topped by Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs in losses. New England got its first win and Drake Maye outplayed Aaron Rodgers even though it was not his best day.
The “Tar Heel Tribune Podcast,” with hosts Britt Whitmire and R.L. Bynum, gives Tar Heel Tribune readers a conversational companion to the site’s written coverage of Carolina athletics with interviews, opinions and insights.
CHAPEL HILL — As a young North Carolina field hockey team works to improve, it’s going through a process that’s not common for the program: learning from losses. That has sometimes meant taking risks to create some momentum. On Sunday at Karen Shelton Stadium, one of those risks was Coach Erin Matson pulling goaltender Merritt Skubisz with seven minutes left for an extra attacker, trailing by a goal.
CLEMSON, S.C. — Buried in the snap counts and Pro Football Focus grades from UNC’s 28–20 collapse at Clemson is a reminder that not every number is grim, even in a game the Tar Heels once controlled and then let slip away.
